How many K is Blue in MH

Discussion in 'Metal Halide Aquarium Lighting' started by jmc2009209, Jan 19, 2011.

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  1. jmc2009209

    jmc2009209 Flamingo Tongue

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    How many K is blue in mh, I heard its 20k i don't know for sure but i want some blue for my halide system. If anyone know let me know thanks.
     
    jmc2009209, Jan 19, 2011
    jmc2009209, Jan 19, 2011
    #1

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  2. saints fan 420

    saints fan 420 Expensive Colorful Sticks

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    20k is blue...14k is blue/white kinda a purpleish white color....and 10k yellow/whiteish

    some ballasts burn the 20k a little whiter as well..
     
    saints fan 420, Jan 19, 2011
    saints fan 420, Jan 19, 2011
    #2
  3. FaceOfDeceit

    FaceOfDeceit Hockey Beard

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    Different brand bulbs will appear more blue than others at the same K rating.
     
    FaceOfDeceit, Jan 19, 2011
    FaceOfDeceit, Jan 19, 2011
    #3
  4. jmc2009209

    jmc2009209 Flamingo Tongue

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    I want some true purple, And true blue whitish. Does ballast hold any mh bulbs at different K but same watts
     
    jmc2009209, Jan 19, 2011
    jmc2009209, Jan 19, 2011
    #4
  5. saints fan 420

    saints fan 420 Expensive Colorful Sticks

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    what ballast do you have..or what fixture do you have..i have a 20k xm and it burns a little whiter on my sunpod ballast at around 300watts even tho its a 250w fixture and ballast..
     
    saints fan 420, Jan 19, 2011
    saints fan 420, Jan 19, 2011
    #5
  6. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

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    sostoudt, Jan 19, 2011
    sostoudt, Jan 19, 2011
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  7. gcarroll

    gcarroll Zoanthid

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    Very few manufacturers actually rate their bulbs using the true K temp that they measure out to. No one markets a true 20K bulb because it would still appear white to the human eye. Any bulb that a human can see the slightest amount of blue is well past 30K on a spectrometer. Most manufacturers just pull Kelvin temps out of their @#$! For example one of my favorite bulbs the Phoenix 14K is bluer than many 20K. All in all it just depends on the manufacturer.
     
    gcarroll, Jan 19, 2011
    gcarroll, Jan 19, 2011
    #7
  8. GuitarMan89

    GuitarMan89 Giant Squid

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    The bulb depends on many different things including manufacture, kelvin rating, ballast used, wattage and age. What exactly are you looking for?
     
    GuitarMan89, Jan 19, 2011
    GuitarMan89, Jan 19, 2011
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  9. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    I had a hard time finding a good combination of ballast to bulb in a 20k for my mh. I tried the sps blue life 20k and an Ushio 20k on my lumatek ballasts. I did find that actinic bulbs bought in the 420nm range give a jumpstart towards more of a violet/purplish hue. 460nm actinics are more of a true blue color:(

    I didn't care for the above combination of ballast to mh lamp though. Never gave me the look I was after.
     
    missionsix, Jan 19, 2011
    missionsix, Jan 19, 2011
    #9